Oculus Quest 2: The VR Headset Revolutionizing Immersive Experiences
Oculus Quest 2: The VR Headset Revolutionizing Immersive Experiences The Oculus Quest 2 by Meta (formerly Facebook) brings cutting-edge VR to a wide audience, evolving
In an era defined by digital transformation, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to engage customers, employees and stakeholders. Two technologies leading the charge in this immersive revolution are Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). Once confined to the realms of gaming and entertainment, AR and VR are now redefining how brands interact, train, and market—delivering deeply engaging, memorable experiences that traditional methods simply can’t match.
In this blog, we explore how businesses across sectors are using AR and VR to enhance engagement, drive value and future-proof their operations.
Before diving in, it’s important to distinguish between the two:
Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital content onto the real world via smartphones, tablets or AR glasses. Think of apps that let you visualise furniture in your living room before buying.
Virtual Reality (VR) immerses users in a completely digital environment, typically accessed through a VR headset. It transports users to a virtual space where they can interact and explore in real time.
Both technologies offer unique engagement opportunities, and their applications in business are growing rapidly.
Oculus Quest 2: The VR Headset Revolutionizing Immersive Experiences The Oculus Quest 2 by Meta (formerly Facebook) brings cutting-edge VR to a wide audience, evolving
Marketing has become more experiential than ever, and AR and VR are powering that shift.
Interactive Product Visualisation: Retailers like IKEA and Dulux use AR apps to let customers preview furniture or paint colours in their homes before making a purchase, increasing confidence and reducing returns.
Virtual Try-Ons: Brands such as L’Oréal and Warby Parker allow customers to try on makeup or glasses virtually, streamlining the decision-making process and making online shopping more engaging.
Immersive Brand Experiences: Companies are using VR to create virtual tours of facilities, showrooms or brand stories. These experiences offer a more compelling and interactive way to connect with audiences.
AR and VR are also transforming how businesses engage at trade shows, conferences, and product launches.
Virtual Exhibitions and Booths: Brands can now recreate their exhibition stands in virtual environments, allowing global visitors to explore from anywhere.
Live Product Demonstrations in VR: Businesses can showcase their products or prototypes in a 3d virtual space—ideal for industries like automotive, architecture or manufacturing.
AR-Enhanced Presentations: Presenters can use AR overlays to make talks more interactive and data-driven, capturing audience attention more effectively.
Internally, businesses are adopting VR as a powerful tool for training and development.
Simulated Training Environments: VR enables staff to practise real-world scenarios—such as operating machinery, handling emergencies or performing surgeries—without real-world risks.
Onboarding New Employees: A VR onboarding module can walk new hires through company culture, processes and even office layouts, offering a consistent and engaging first impression.
Soft Skills and Diversity Training: VR is also used to teach empathy and interpersonal skills, such as conflict resolution or unconscious bias training, through role-playing simulations.
AR and VR can elevate the customer journey in physical and digital retail environments.
In-Store Navigation: AR wayfinding apps help customers locate items quickly within large retail spaces, improving efficiency and satisfaction.
Virtual Stores: Retailers can offer fully virtual stores, where customers can browse, interact, and purchase as if they were walking through a physical shop.
Personalised Experiences: AR filters and experiences tailored to individual preferences enhance engagement and foster brand loyalty.
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Augmented and Virtual Reality aren’t just about novelty—they offer tangible, measurable benefits that enhance business performance and deepen engagement at every touchpoint. Here’s a closer look at how AR and VR are delivering real value:
Immersive experiences make brands more memorable. AR-powered apps and VR campaigns offer interactive storytelling that holds attention far longer than static media. When customers can virtually “experience” a product—be it trying on a jacket or test driving a car—they form an emotional connection with the brand.
Example: A customer using AR to see how a new sofa fits in their living room is more likely to follow through with a purchase and recommend the brand to others.
Stat Insight: Studies show that immersive brand experiences can increase engagement time by up to 85% compared to traditional advertising.
In training environments, VR offers repetition without risk. Learners can make mistakes and try again, building confidence before they face real-world scenarios. It’s especially valuable in high-stakes industries like healthcare, manufacturing and defence.
Benefits:
Enhanced knowledge retention due to multisensory engagement.
Consistent training delivery across locations.
Immediate feedback through AI-powered simulations.
Planning a multi-day conference or international business event can be expensive. AR/VR helps reduce costs by offering virtual experiences instead of physical demos, interactive presentations in place of printed brochures, and even virtual attendance options.
Example: A B2B company replaced a costly live machinery demo with a VR simulation at a global expo, saving on transport, staffing, and setup while offering a more flexible experience to delegates.
Bonus: One World Rental provides event organisers with short-term AR/VR hire, eliminating the need to invest in equipment for one-off business events or conferences.
AR and VR solutions are easily scalable, making them ideal for businesses operating across multiple sites or regions. Once developed, a virtual experience can be distributed to thousands of users simultaneously, whether for marketing, training or internal communication.
Advantages:
Consistent user experience worldwide.
Updates and improvements can be made centrally.
Integration with existing enterprise platforms for seamless delivery.
Use Case: A tech company launched a VR product showcase at a London conference, then deployed the same experience across events in Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester using One World Rental’s multi-location support.
AR and VR platforms often come with built-in analytics, offering insights into user behaviour, preferences and interactions.
Why It Matters:
Understand which parts of a VR training module are most effective.
Track user dwell time and engagement in virtual showrooms.
Use heatmaps to identify where customers focus their attention in AR experiences.
This data can then inform better design, improved user experiences, and more targeted marketing strategies.
AR and VR can improve accessibility for both customers and employees. For example, virtual tours can bring products, services or even entire spaces to users with mobility challenges or those in remote locations.
Examples:
VR tours of properties for those unable to attend in person.
AR translation tools to support multilingual engagement.
Customisable training modules for different learning needs and abilities.
In a crowded expo hall, the brand using VR or AR immediately draws attention and sets itself apart as an innovator.
Event Advantage: AR/VR gives your team a unique tool to attract foot traffic, elevate pitch delivery, and drive social sharing during business events.
One World Rental Tip: With short-term AR/VR rentals and full on-site support, your business can deploy standout activations at your next conference or networking event, without the hassle of ownership or logistics.
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While the benefits of AR and VR are impressive, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges businesses may face when adopting immersive technology. Fortunately, AR/VR rental services like One World Rental offer practical, cost-effective solutions that help organisations overcome these hurdles.
Implementing AR and VR solutions often requires a significant upfront investment in hardware, software development, and content creation. For many small to mid-sized businesses, this can be a barrier.
Not every customer, client or employee has access to high-performance devices or the internet speeds required to run AR and VR experiences smoothly. This can impact usability and reach.
AR and VR platforms often collect sensitive data, such as eye tracking, motion patterns, and voice commands. Improper handling of this data can lead to privacy concerns and regulatory compliance issues.
Even with access to devices, many companies struggle to create relevant, engaging AR/VR content—or to integrate it into existing systems like LMS platforms or CRM tools.
Large organisations may find it difficult to scale AR/VR initiatives across multiple offices or event locations.
While AR and VR adoption come with challenges, partnering with a trusted provider like One World Rental makes the transition far more manageable. By offering access to the latest devices, technical expertise, and scalable solutions, One World Rental enables businesses to unlock the full potential of immersive technology without the complexity or cost of ownership.
Whether you’re planning an immersive brand activation, training your team with VR simulations, or creating memorable customer experiences, One World Rental can provide the latest AR and VR equipment and expert support to make it happen.
Explore our AR/VR rental services today and discover how immersive technology can transform your next event, campaign or training initiative.
Visit One World Rental’s AR/VR or get in touch with our team for a tailored quote.